Vibrant Communities Calgary has released a new report revealing the city’s living wage is $26.50 an hour, up two dollars an hour from last year.
University of Calgary student Taq Thajudeen tells CityNews that the wage hike has been tough, as the cost of living in Calgary rises.
“It’s affecting everyone, especially as time continues and especially international students in the area. Our program has a lot more international students than other faculties I’ve noticed,” he said. “Combined with needing loans, scholarships, it really impacts the way people live and balance work, especially in an academically intensive program like ours.”
Dani Deboice, executive director with Vibrant Communities Calgary, says the city’s living wage is now close to 77 per cent higher than the minimum wage in Alberta, which has been sitting stagnate at $15 and hour since 2015, adding that transportation, childcare, and food costs are the main drivers for the increase.
“Earning a living wage, that would mean an extra $400 a week in the pocket of low-income Calgarians,” she explained. “That money really would be put towards primarily food costs, shelter, things that they need to make a basic income.”
As for Thajudeen, he says he’s able to make ends meet by having a part-time job, along with loans for school.
“Especially as someone coming from out of the province. It’s a little bit cheaper for me since I was able to get the opportunity to live on campus, but for other people it’s a little bit tougher,” he added.
Only Airdrie and Jasper are above Calgary on the list for the highest living wage in Alberta.